The NT churches spread the gospel and confirmed it’s truth with signs and wonders“… and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.” (Acts 2:43, 5:12).

The NT churches were given powerful spiritual gifts to be used in the church and for evangelism“There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit … the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, faith, gifts of healings, the working of miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, tongues, interpretation of tongues.” (1 Corinthians 12:4-11)

Paul was trained by the Lord for 17 years (Galatians 1:11--2:1), but …“… my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom,but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 2:4-5, 1 Thessalonians 1:5)

The apostles warned that false teachers and false doctrines were coming “… there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies… And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words …” (2 Peter 2:1-3)Also see 2 Cor. 4:2, Eph. 4:14, Eph. 5:15-17, Col. 2:22, 1 Tim. 1:10, 2 Tim. 3:13, 2 Tim. 4:3-4, Heb. 13:9

The 2 major causes of the early destruction of the spiritual gifts in the Christian church:

First, we must recognize Satan and his powerful influence Satan, our mortal enemy, is the greatest liar and deceiver in the history of the world.“the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world” (Revelation 12:9).“there is no truth in him ... he is liar and the father of it” (John 8:44).“the god of this world” (2 Corinthians 4:4) … and … “the ruler of this world” (John 12:31).No one works against God and His purposes with more fury than Satan.He obviously attacks those who have the most spiritual power and authority.And he obviously attacks the doctrines that have the most spiritual power attached to them.

Second, the “have-not” church leaders were an obvious problemThe Lord did NOT give powerful spiritual gifts to everyone in the NT churches.These gifts were special anointings, which were connected with the baptism with the Holy Spirit.Naturally, those who did NOT have these spiritual gifts were jealous of those who had them.The “have-nots” in church authority had to find a way to protect their prestigious positions.They decided that pointing to 1 Corinthians 13:10 was their safest and best excuse.And many “have-not” church members went along with this rationalization.

1 Corinthians 13:8 … But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease;whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part.10 But when that which is perfect (complete) has come, then that which is in part will be done away.11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child;but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as also am known.

“But when that which is perfect (complete) has come” … the NKJV footnote says:“Most likely, this is a reference to the Second Coming of Christ and the completion of all things (see verse 12). But some have interpreted this as referring to the completion of the NT canon.”As far as the NT canon being "that which is perfect" … it simply cannot be what Paul meant. Good exegesis simply disallows this interpretation. Paul was writing to the church at Corinth and he was writing things that were perfectly understandable to them. They had no way of knowing that there was even going to be a New Testament canon when Paul wrote this. I don't believe the Holy Spirit would have inspired Paul to write something to them that would have been totally incomprehensible because this was not at all a prophetic writing.

“For now we see in a mirror dimly” … the NKJV footnote refers to Philippians 3:12 …“Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.”

“face to face” … the NKJV footnote refers to 1 John 3:2 …“Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be,but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.”

The inevitable result of this major doctrinal changeThere was a steadily-decreasing belief in this baptism and its’ resulting spiritual gifts.Unbelief, and the lack of seeking these blessings, resulted in fewer and fewer people receiving them.So, belief in the doctrine of the “second blessing”, and the knowledge that the spiritual gifts had not passed away, spiraled downward, and a great many dry years followed … until the early 1900’s.

“And I (Jesus) will pray (to) the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever -- the Spirit of truth … you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.… If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him,and We will come to him and make Our home with him.… But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” (John 14:16-26).

The Greek word here for "another" is "allos" meaning "another of the same kind" (ref: Vine). So, the Holy Spirit is another Person of the Triune Godhead (like God the Son).It seems to say that ...all 3 Persons of the Triune God will come to be with the faithful believer,but only the Holy Spirit will remain in him/her forever (i.e. until death),and only the Holy Spirit will be the One doing the teaching.Interesting, what?

Joh 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Joh 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.Jas 1:15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

There is a difference between that which is flesh and that which is spirit. Is man's sin nature contained in the flesh or revealed through the deeds of the spirit?

IMO, man's sin nature is contained in the flesh, and is revealed through the deeds of the soul, which comprises mind(intellect), will, and emotions.

IMO, the born-again Christian's spirit contains the Holy Spirit, and that's why no demon can be in there, i.e. he/she cannot be demon-possessed.

Christians believe the Word (the Logos) is the Second Person of the Triune Godhead,and that it was this Logos who came to earth and became flesh (Jesus Christ).“… the Word was God … and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:1-14).“God was manifested in the flesh” (1 Timothy 3:16).“That Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God” (Luke 1:35).But, how could GOD actually be the Son of someone … even the Son of God?This drove me crazy for a while, because I had forgotten some of this …

Matthew 1:18-23“… After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. … an angel of the Lord (Gabriel) appeared to him (Joseph) in a dream, saying, ‘… that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.’ … Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel, which is translated, ‘God with us’. ”

Luke 1:26-35“… the angel Gabriel was sent by God … to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph …‘… And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son’ … Then Mary said to the angel, ‘How can this be, since I do not know a man?’ And the angel answered and said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.’ ”

Several Scripture verses tell us that Jesus never sinned, that He was without sin.This sinless human called “Jesus” actually had some so-called “parents”.His mother was Mary, who had man's sin nature.His “father” was the Holy Spirit (i.e. God), who did NOT have man's sin nature. So, this is why Jesus’ name/title “Son of God” is NOT so crazy after all.Jesus “father” really was God ... technically, He was God's Son, He really WAS the Son of God.

Surely, this is the ONLY time that this has ever happened; that’s why God calls Jesus His “ONLY-begotten” Son. This is what I believe, until someone proves me wrong.

And this is why the sin nature is carried in man's sperm, and not in anyone’s blood.Question … Did the Holy Spirit provide sperm (or did He perform a creative miracle) in Mary’s womb?God put curses on everyone involved with the Fall of Man: on Satan, on Adam, on Eve (and on the earth).Question … Why didn’t God mention the tainting of the male sperm?

God’s sinless human was necessaryScripture reveals the disasterous situation …sin ==> spiritual death ==> separation from God ==> spiritual blindness/deafness.Because of his sin, man is hopelessly lost and helpless to save himself.But, God devised a plan to save mankind … and this is the very beginning of God’s grace.A sinless human, the Son of God Himself, would die in man’s place!God declared that this would satisfy Him.And this is the foundation of His “new covenant” … the other part is for man to believe it.No more animals shedding their blood … the Son of God would shed HIS blood.The Son of God Himself would serve as the final, ultimate, and perfectly sinless sacrificial Lamb.“The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (in general)!” (John 1:29).The sinless One would take the place of all of the condemned sinners.He would be our Substitute, thus opening the door to heaven to everyone who can/will believe.